Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Kagan

@michaelgkagan.bsky.social

4.1K followers 390 following 1.7K posts

behindtheborder.substack.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · Aug 18

My book, with a new afterword reflecting on COVID, the Biden years and the return of Trump, is out in paperback. Get your copy.

open.substack.com/pub/behindth...

The Battle To Stay in America

Now out in paperback, with a new afterword

open.substack.com

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 8h

Monday

1 7

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 8h

Completely fine

1 1

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Julie DiCaro @juliedicaro.bsky.social · 9h

So Kilmer Abrego-Garcia will not challenge a deportation to Costa Rica, who has agreed to for him residency, but DHS won’t agree to send him there because it’s not cruel enough.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...

For weeks, Mr. Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who is married to a U.S. citizen, has made clear that he would not challenge his deportation if he were sent to Costa Rica, which has promised him legal residency and guaranteed that he would not be sent back to El Salvador.

But the Trump administration has refused to deport him to Costa Rica, and in an earlier hearing this week, Judge Xinis pressed the administration to consider the option or clarify why it was unacceptable.

61 1.3K 3.5K

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 18h

thenevadaindependent.com/article/unlv...

UNLV broke up its diversity office. Students wonder whether it’s a change in name only. - The Nevada Independent

Many students at UNLV, even if they didn’t personally participate in DEI programs, acknowledged that they provide important resources to the campus community. Several of the students interviewed by Th...

thenevadaindependent.com

1 1

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Las Vegas Review-Journal @reviewjournal.com · 2d

CHAMPS AGAIN!!! A’ja Wilson scored 31 points and the Aces completed a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury to win their third WNBA championship in four years with a 97-86 win in Game 4 at Mortgage Matchup Center tonight.

3rd time’s the charm: Aces sweep Mercury for 3rd WNBA title in 4 years

The Aces clinched their third WNBA title in four years after completing a sweep over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday at Mortgage Matchup Center

www.reviewjournal.com

4 5

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Patrick Howell O’Neill @patrickhowelloneill.com · 4d

New: DHS has reassigned hundreds of national security specialists, including cyber personnel from CISA, into jobs that support President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts and said it would fire anyone who refuses to go along. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Homeland Security Cyber Personnel Reassigned to Jobs in Trump’s Deportation Push

The US Department of Homeland Security has shifted hundreds of national security specialists, including cyber personnel, into jobs that support President Donald Trump’s deportations and said it would ...

www.bloomberg.com

25 180 230

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 4d

Everything is fine

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 5d

Here’s video of the incident

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 5d

Flags should be at half mast www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/d...

Saul Zabar, Smoked Fish Czar of Upper West Side, Dies at 97

www.nytimes.com

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 5d

Just a question of what kind of transformation

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

"You are a transformative president" -- I regret to inform you that Mark Carney is kissing Trump's ass

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 5d

Good lede

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

1 3

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Julia Rose Kraut @juliarosekraut.bsky.social · 6d

While a law known as the Posse Comitatus Act generally forbids the use of the armed forces for law enforcement purposes, another law called the Insurrection Act creates an exception. Mr. Trump would invoke the Insurrection Act at the border, enabling the use of federal troops to apprehend migrants, Mr. Miller said.

“Bottom line,” he said, “President Trump will do whatever it takes.”

1 18 44

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Daniel Naujoks @danielnaujoks.bsky.social · 7d

Everyone interested in Trump’s autocratic overreach to silence universities must read this great explainer of the new “deal” Trump offered to 9 universities.
It’s nothing but unlawful extortion. It’s scary—but it’s vital we are all aware of what is happening.
balkin.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-...

The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal

This week, the Trump Administration attempted to make universities an offer we can’t refuse. With great fanfare, the administration announce...

balkin.blogspot.com

4 7

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 7d

There is a word for this kind of authoritarianism and if starts with a F

8 80 350

Reposted by Michael Kagan

joan @joanbybike.bsky.social · 7d

Smoke in Portland is coming from two things: folks barbecuing on a beautiful fall day, and feds aggressively teargassing peaceful protesters at the ICE building

2 3

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 7d

Hey @joanbybike.bsky.social in Portland! Is it burning to the ground?

1 2

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Pema Levy @pemalevy.bsky.social · 9d

Is this a Kavanaugh stop?

"Rodrick Johnson, 67...detained by federal agents during the South Shore raid. A U.S. citizen, he said agents broke through his door and dragged him out in zip ties.

Johnson said he was left tied up outside the building for nearly three hours"

Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 10d

"Jones, 27, is among the residents left at 7500 S. South Shore Drive who are trying to piece together what remains after an early morning, high-powered federal immigration raid led to the arrests of dozens of their neighbors at their South Shore apartment building."

Massive immigration raid on Chicago apartment building leaves residents reeling: 'I feel defeated'

The Department of Homeland Security said federal agents with Border Patrol, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested 37 people in the raid.

chicago.suntimes.com

17 19

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 8d

Jesus Christ. DHS has held this guy in the hospital handcuffed to a bed and under constant guard for over a MONTH without ANY warrant or even ANY steps taken towards putting him into the removal system!

Petitioner’s counsel has requested documentation of a judicial warrant for his arrest, any charging documents, or other authority supporting his detention. See Santiago Decl. ¶¶ 18–20. ICE has provided no response. Id. To date, ICE has not placed Petitioner in removal proceedings, charged him with violating immigration law, set bond, issued a Notice to Appear, or otherwise processed him. See Pet. ¶¶ 16, 49. In Respondent’s Opposition brief, the government states “ICE intends to take further action consistent with the laws prescribed under the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) once Petitioner is released from medical care and it can conduct the examination as [prescribed] in 8 C.F.R § 287.3.” Opp. at 4. Neither Petitioner nor Respondents have provided the Court with information about Petitioner’s citizenship, whether he has violated any law or regulation, or any information that would suggest that Petitioner is a flight risk.

160 3.1K 7.5K

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Ian Bassin @ianbassin.bsky.social · 8d

Breaking: Trump-appointed federal judge issues temporary restraining order against Federalized deployment of National Guard in Oregon.

Judge: “this is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.”

14 330 1.4K

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 8d

But #2 only happens if you have vigorous legal representation.

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 8d

#2 is esp. interesting. When ICE does non-targeted arrests, they should have to somehow prove that the person is actually removable. If that’s via papers or questioning that are the result of of a 4th A violation, that’s most a regulatory and a constitutional violation and can lead to suppression.

1 1

Michael Kagan @michaelgkagan.bsky.social · 8d

In entirely legal terms, it seems like this could be hashed out in 2-4 main ways:
1) Section 1983 lawsuit(s)
2) Vigorous deportation defense involving a motion to suppress
3) Motion to suppress in a criminal proceeding (if any)
4) In a creative habeas petition

2 4

Reposted by Michael Kagan

Felipe De La Hoz @felipedlh.bsky.social · 8d

Maybe I’m missing something here but has anyone written about what we know re: Fourth Amendment issues here? As far as I’m aware you cannot get a criminal warrant for an entire residential building, and you certainly cannot use an immigration warrant to break down someone’s door. What’s the basis?